ICC lauds OCA effort in hosting Women’s World Cup

Cuttack: After Pakistan team management's appreciation, ICC too has praised the hospitality and facilities provided by Odisha Cricket Association to Pakistan players, who are staying inside Barabati stadium premises here for the Women's World Cup to be played here and in Mumbai.

The ICC endorsed the decision of the OCA to allow the Pakistan players to stay at the Club House located inside the stadium premises.

"The facilities provided by the host association are wonderful and in accordance to ICC requirement. Like the Pakistan team management, the ICC is also appreciating the arrangements here," an ICC spokesperson said today.

According to OCA secretary Asirbad Behera, two senior functionaries of ICC — CEO David Richardson and David Horney — will visit Cuttack during the matches. Some senior members of the BCCI will also be here to oversee arrangements for the Women's World Cup matches being hosted by OCA.

While the remaining teams of the World Cup — New Zealand, South Africa and Australia — are staying in a hotel in Bhubaneswar, the Pakistan team will continue to stay in the OCA Club till the end of their group matches on February 15.

The OCA Club has 17 luxurious double-bed rooms, 15 of which are used by the Pakistan team. Similarly, the club is having a swimming pool and a sophisticated gym which are used by the Pakistan players.

Similarly, a team of around 15 selected cooks of the OCA cafeteria are in charge of Pakistan players' provisions, serving them their favourite dishes.

"We are determined to give the best facility to our guests and see to it that the Pakistan players go from here highly satisfied," said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera, adding that if Pakistan reach the final of the tournament, OCA would be delighted to host that match here.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan team lost to Odisha XI in their second warm-up match today after registering an emphatic win in the first encounter yesterday. After a day break tomorrow, Pakistan will start their World Cup campaign against Australia here on Friday.

Pleased with the team's performance after registering a win against a World Cup participating team, the OCA has announced a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each to all the 15 players and five support staff of the Odisha team.